Begonia plant named &#39;BKPBECLR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBECLR’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; very dark-colored leaves that provide striking color contrast with the flowers; uniform and freely flowering habit; and single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that are bright red in color,

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBECLR’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BKPBECRM’

Applicant: Annie Cornelia Beekenkamp

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred to as Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBECLR’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6900484, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this now Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBECLR’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBECLR’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Very dark-colored leaves that provide striking color contrast         with the flowers.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that         are bright red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection         have green-colored leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf texture as plants of the female parent selection         have pubescent leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have orange yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower form as plants of the male parent selection         only have single-type flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECRM’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘BKPBECRM’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are taller than plants of         ‘BKPBECRM’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘BKPBECRM’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘BKPBECRM’ have dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Male flowers of plants of the new Begonia have fewer         tepaloids than male flowers of plants of ‘BKPBECRM’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘Berseko’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Berseko’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Berseko’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Berseko’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘Berseko’ have green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBECLR’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of upper and lower surfaces of typical fully developed female and male flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBECLR’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° to 21° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECLR’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6900484, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; plant shape flattened             globular; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about four basal branches developing             per plant; each basal branch with about three lateral             branches; pinching is not required. Length: About 13.5 cm.             Diameter: About 9 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color, developing: Close to between N199B and 200D.             Color, fully developed: Close to between 148A and 152A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 13.4 cm. Width: About 10.9 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Oblique, moderately to strongly imbricate.             Margin: Crenate to serrulate; moderately to strongly             undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along veins; slightly             velvety; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Laciniate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             200A and 203A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             183A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between N189A and 202A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 178A; venation,             close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Slightly to moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 152A; distally, close to             183A to 183B. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length:             About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire, Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D; towards the             margins, tinged with close to 179B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate single-type female flowers and fully             double male flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes;             freely flowering habit with about three flowers per cyme and             about 180 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright             to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,             plants begin flowering about 46 days after exposure to             photoinductive treatments.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain             good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior             environment.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter, flattened:             About 2.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly circular;             flattened. Texture and luster: Glabrous, velvety; very             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 45C; towards the base,             close to 42B.         -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Six per flower, arranged             in two whorls. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire; towards the base, slightly             serrate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to between 45B and 46C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 42A to 42B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 46C; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 42A to             42B; color does not fade with development. Tepaloids: None             observed on female flowers.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 5.9 cm. Depth: About 2.4 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower, opposite.             Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape: Broadly             obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire; towards the base, slightly serrate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Glabrous; moderately velvety;             matte to slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to between 45B and 46C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 42A to 42B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 46C; color does not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 42A to 42B; color does not             fade with development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement:             About 6 to 18 per flower, arranged in multiple whorls at the             center of the flower. Length: Variable, about 1.3 cm to             2.9 cm. Width: Variable, about 1 cm to 3.1 cm. Shape:             Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Broadly attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to between 45B and 46C. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 43A to 43B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to between 45B to 45C and 46C; color does not             fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             45C; color does not fade with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Angle: About 30° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to N199C slightly tinged             with close to 152A to 152B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 30° from the peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible, bending with the weight of the             flowers. Texture and luster: Glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 173A to 173B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,             opposite. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape:             Roughly orbicular. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire; distally, finely serrate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous; matte. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 179A to 179B; towards the             base, close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed on male flowers,             all structures transformed into tepaloids. Pistils: Present             only on female flowers. Quantity per flower: Three. Length:             About 1 cm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to             20C. Stigma diameter: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.             Stigma color: Close to 7B to 7C. Ovary color: Close to 172A.             Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBECLR’ as illustrated and described. 